The Brookhaven leader., 1887-10-06


helped lay its corner stone Jas did my
friend Burkitt), ant - far As my aid is
concerned, it shall have it till it needs
no further aid, or further attempt to aid
is vain and useless | believed when it
was first inaugurated, it was a necessary
factor in resuscitatiug the dead aud dy-
ing interests of the farmers, and be-
lieve 50 yet. But
VARIOUS OBJECTIONS
are urged against il. One is, that we
see no good results from it yet admit
we do not see a great deal; for it has
been in operation only seven years, and,
probably, there have not been "a yet, 50
graduates. We have, in Mississippi,
been so long planting in the spring and
reaping all the results Of our labOrs in
the fall, that we are disinclined To adopt
those slow, yet certain measures, which
can only mature, in years. On the con-
trary, we are 80 eager for results, that
we mortgage our crops before they are
planted and thus anticipate by year,
at enOr nous interest and profits to
others, the fruits of our toll. Under
this system, We discard orchards, stock
raising, and regenerating our waste
lands, because we cannot get an immedi-
ate benefit from them. But every stu
dent who goes out from the College will
know something Of the science of agri-
culture. which he cannot fail to impart
to those around him, An intelligent
man is an educator wherever he goes.
The candle Of knowledge cannot be hid
under bushel." Besides, we need to
have agriculture taught in all the
schools of the State, as is done in Eu
rope. And where are we to get the
teachers? But even in this short time
We are not without
PRACTICAL RESULTS
of great benefit. The College first started
a creamery in the State. Now there
are dozen; and more are being put up.
A. to the great profits of dairying, | will
speak hereafter. Another objection is
that but few can attend the College and
chat it is taxing the many, for the ben
eft of the few" There is both force
aud plausibiiity in this. But how is it
to be prevented unless We consent TO 90
on in retrogression until nobody is able
to attend the school? There are twice
as many desiring to attend the school,
and who annually apply, As can be taken.
We can remedy that by building an
other dormitory, and this, think, ought
to be done at once. 1t will cost about
twenty-five thousand dollars. We can
also enlarge the usefulness of the College
by admitting none who will not declare
it to be their bona tide intention to be
farmers. Remember, | 90 not want a
boy who has gone there prevented from
doing WI ,teyer his inclination or inter
ests dictate, after he leaves; but a. it is
A FARMERS COLLEGE,,
intended to advance their interest
and promote their welfare, | think
! it would be well, as long as ac-
cOmmOdatiOns are insufficient, to give
the preference to those who want to be
farmers. 1t will obviate, also, to some
extent, this objection, if the legislature
would require a small tuition fee from
each attendant, to help keep up the Col,
lege.
When | remember how many poor
and worthy boys have worked their way
through the College, | am disinclined to
recommend this, and especially 50, when
| know that every attendant at the Col
lege is the son of poor parents, and can,
with difficulty, get through with tuition
free; but if this objec ion be insisted on,
| think it would be better TO charge the
fee than to give up the College. And
here | wish to call attention to a recon-
mendatiOn Of the Trustees in their re-
port to the Governor, about providing
for the education of one poor, working
farmer boy, from each county in the
State, by an appropriation, either from
the State or county treasury, of one hun
dred dollars for each of said boys | am
strongly in favor of this. Let each boy
be taken from the field, and of condi-
ton, financially, which renders it impos-
sible for him otherwise to go to the Col
lege. Let him be selected, by officials
acting under oath to do impartial JUS
tice, and let there be no other test of
merit beyond good character, but supe
rior mental strength, whether he has ever
been to school or not. In this way, we
would meet the objection that the poor
cannot go, and we would do even better
than that-we would give fair chance
to the children of poor families to get a
start in the world.
| have been called "leveler," aud
am; but want to
LEVEL BY ELEVATION,
not by depression-lifting up the hum
bic and low y-nOt putting down the
more fortunate. Aud after all, what is
government good for but to elevate and
advance the people? How much is it
worth if is to be perverted, as the Re-
pubHcans have perverted it, to giving
large fortunes by governmental favors,
subsidies and grants, to those already
Over-rich, and leaving the poor to re-
main as they are.
There are other objections, which
cannot answer further than to say, that
the College belongs to the people, as all
the other State Colleges and Universe
ties do. 1t is subject to their control.
Ii anything in lis management be
wronu nnrraot II Eorraor II thro,,ub